Tokyo Motor Fist – TMF
Now, either Tokyo Motor Fist has come from
a random name generator, or its an inspired band name. I can just imagine the
conversation….Ted ‘Guys c’mon! The albums almost finished and we don’t have a
band name for that Italian dude that’s given us the money to make this thing’.
Chuck ‘I know, lets come up with a name something like your porn name – you
know your first pet and the street where you live!’ Ted, ‘Awesome dude! Put the
following things in the hat….1. Your favourite place….2. A part of a car…..3. a
body part’
So out of the hat comes ‘Tokyo Motor Fist’.
Its a good job they didn’t go with the second random generated name….’Paris
Gearbox Elbow’.
Based on this line up I am expecting great
things ,as these guys should know what they are doing and what fans expect.
After all, it is Ted Poley (D2), Steve Brown (Trixter), Greg Smith (Rainbow,
Ted Nugent) and Chuck Burgi (Rainbow, JLT, BOC). As per The Defiants debut last
year, I want this to be every bit as good.
Best way I can describe the whole experience like the summer feel-good
sound of Y&Ts Summertime Girls crossed with D2s Naughty Naughty and a slice
of Van Halen thrown in for good measure. There’s not a single duff track on
this album, and its one of the most feel good, uplifting, unashamed slices of 80s
classic rock AOR. They’ve gone through the elements of the 80s that made their
original bands great – huge riffs…check. Even bigger harmonies….check. Widdly
solos….double check!
Ted Poley sounds great. Basically, he album
just flies by. The first six songs just kick you in the nuts and doesn’t back
off for a single second. Its hard to pick any faves as its so consistent. If I
had to pick one, it would be the all guns blazing ‘Shameless’ its in a similar
vein to DFPs ‘Gimme Your Good Lovin’. The album only draws breath for the
ballad-ish ‘Don’t Let Me Go’, before that 80s influenced (and future classic I
swear to God) ‘Put Me To Shame’. In fact its one of the best songs I heard in
the last few years. It’s that good, I asked the mother in law to knit me a new
set of legwarmers! ‘Done To Me’ is as if Poley was fronting Def Leppard. ‘Get
You Off My Mind’ borders on arena rock with its instantly memorable chorus. Its
all over waaay too quickly with the brisk and pulsating ‘Fallin’ Apart’.
Signore Perugino certainly has a knack when
he is putting projects together. I’m hoping (like The Defiants) that Tokyo
Motor Fist tour our shores or at the bear minimum plat a festival over the
coming 12 months. TNF is one of the best debuts I’ve heard since The Defiants,
and Blood Red Saints & Angels Or Kings in recent years. Its not just the Poley Show, in fact Steve Browns guitar
work is simple awesome, and when its all backed up by the gruesome twosome of
Burgi and Smith, it all makes for a superb album and listening experience!
If this isn’t at the sharp end of my (and
your) top 5 albums of 2016 I’ll be very surprised.
Score - 95/100
Tokyo Motor Fist are
Ted Poley – Vocals
Steve Brown – Guitars
Greg Smith – Bass
Chuck Burgi – Drums
Tracklisting –
Picking Up The Pieces
Love Me Insane
Shameless
Love
Black And Blue
You’re My Revolution
Don’t Let Me go
Put Me To Shame
Done To Me
Get You Off My Mind
Fallin’ apart
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